Chris Dearden has been crafting fine wines in Napa Valley for over 20 years. The third generation Californian was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley town of Porterville and always had an aptitude and love for agriculture and life sciences. When it came to choosing a college, he discovered a great way to combine these two disciplines and artistry in the field of Enology and Viticulture at UC Davis. Upon graduation, and after several internships with wineries and research positions at UC Davis, he came directly to the Napa Valley and has never looked back. After winemaking positions with William Hill, Madonna Estate, and BV/Inglenook/Christian Brothers, he went back to obtain an MBA at the prestigious Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. During this period, he spent three years at Seguin Moreau Cooperage where he credits learning more about winemaking than in the previous years as a day to day winemaker. Representing the company, he traveled to the finest winemaking regions in France, South America and California, Oregon and Washington State helping winemakers make better wines and learning how the best wines are made around the world. Yearning to produce wine again, he began a fourteen year journey developing a Napa Valley winery from the ground up. He established the vineyard, brand, wine style and identity. During this period, he also developed the North American branch of the highly respected Gamba Cooperage, Costa Del Sol Consulting Company, brands Chanticleer and Sleeping Giant and a premium Pinot noir vineyard estate in the Carneros district of Napa Valley.
2010 marked the beginning of a new chapter for the newly established Deardenwines Portfolio which includes brands such as: Chanticleer Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese and Carneros Pinot grigio; Sleeping Giant “Aldoroty Vineyard” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Two-Iron Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Train Wreck Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Valley Sauvignon blanc, Argus Carneros-Napa Valley Pinot noir and Chardonnay, and Costa Del Sol Napa Valley Mediterranean blend.
His consulting clients include the highly acclaimed Shibumi Knoll “Shibumi Vineyard” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and “Buena Tierra” Russian River Chardonnay and V Madrone St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon and “Old Vine” Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Carneros-Napa Valley Chardonnay.
His Carneros Vineyard Property: Las Amigas Partners is planted to 5 clones of Pinot noir on the 11.6 acre parcel. Plans are in the works for development of a small winery to supplement the vineyard, residence and historic watertower.
Chris lives in Napa with his wife Paige and two children, Sam and Addie.